EXCLUSIVE: Punjab YouTuber Jasbir Singh Busted in Espionage Scandal – 5 Alarming Facts About Pakistan Spy Link
Punjab YouTuber Jasbir Singh Arrested for Espionage, Links to Pakistan-Based Handlers Under Investigation
Rupnagar/Mohali, Punjab:
In a major breakthrough in the ongoing crackdown on espionage activities targeting India, the Punjab Police arrested YouTuber Jasbir Singh from Rupnagar for his alleged involvement in spying for Pakistan. The arrest was made by the State Special Operations Cell (SSOC), Mohali, based on actionable intelligence inputs. The investigation has uncovered critical links between Jasbir Singh and multiple Pakistan-based handlers, revealing a wider espionage-terror network suspected to be operating across northern India.
Jasbir Singh, the creator of the YouTube channel “Jaan Mahal”, had been under surveillance for several months before his detention. His activities raised alarms after his connections with suspected Pakistani operatives came to light during the broader investigation into an espionage ring that has already resulted in multiple arrests across Punjab, Haryana, and Uttar Pradesh.
Intelligence-Led Arrest
Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab, Gaurav Yadav, confirmed the arrest through a detailed post on X (formerly Twitter), stating:
“Acting swiftly on actionable intelligence, SSOC Mohali has unearthed a critical espionage network linked to Jasbir Singh, a resident of Village Mahlan, Rupnagar.”
The DGP’s statement emphasized that the Punjab Police is working in close coordination with central intelligence and counterterrorism agencies to trace and dismantle all nodes of the network. Jasbir Singh’s arrest is seen as a key breakthrough in the continuing effort to neutralize cross-border intelligence threats.
Foreign Travel and Suspicious Associations
Investigations reveal that Jasbir Singh had traveled to Pakistan on three separate occasions — in 2020, 2021, and most recently in 2024. His name surfaced during the investigation into another individual, Jyoti Malhotra, who was arrested earlier for alleged espionage.
Significantly, Singh is reported to have attended the Pakistan National Day event in New Delhi, which was hosted by the Pakistan High Commission. There, he met with Pakistani Army personnel and pro-Pakistan vloggers, according to Punjab Police officials. This meeting appears to have been orchestrated by a Pakistani staffer, Ehsan-ur-Rahim alias Danish, who has since been expelled from India for espionage activities.
Following the arrest of Jyoti Malhotra, Singh allegedly attempted to delete digital communication records with known Pakistani handlers to evade detection. Forensic analysis of his electronic devices has uncovered contact with several Pakistani numbers. These devices are now under thorough examination to assess the scale and impact of his actions.
Broader Espionage Network Uncovered
According to officials familiar with the investigation, Jasbir Singh’s arrest is part of a much broader intelligence operation that is still unfolding. At least 12 individuals from different northern Indian states have already been arrested in connection with this suspected network, including Jyoti Malhotra, who was detained in Hisar.
Malhotra, also a YouTuber known for her channel “Travel with JO”, is accused of maintaining contact with Pakistani intelligence operatives while allegedly gathering sensitive information. Though authorities have stated there is no conclusive evidence that she accessed military data, they confirmed she was in contact with Danish, the Pakistani High Commission staffer, during the military escalation between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
In both cases, investigators are probing the possibility of these YouTubers being recruited or manipulated via soft outreach tactics, including social media engagement and personal invitations to official events.
Links to Terror Groups Under Scrutiny
Officials are also examining whether the information shared by Jasbir Singh or his network was used in planning or supporting terror attacks. DGP Yadav stressed that the Punjab Police is working diligently to identify all possible collaborators and assess the extent to which the espionage efforts were coordinated with terror outfits.
“The presence of such anti-national elements in the country poses a direct threat to our national security,” said a senior officer involved in the investigation. “Whether knowingly or unknowingly, individuals like Jasbir Singh are being used as conduits to gather and transmit sensitive data to enemy states.”
The officer further emphasized the role of online platforms such as YouTube in disseminating subtle propaganda and recruiting susceptible individuals for cross-border operations.
Jyoti Malhotra Case Offers Key Leads
Malhotra’s interrogation is believed to have provided several leads. According to Hisar Police, she had been in contact with Danish since at least November 2023. During questioning by the National Investigation Agency (NIA), Intelligence Bureau (IB), and Military Intelligence officials, she revealed details of her interactions with individuals linked to Pakistani state and non-state actors.
Her frequent international travel — including visits to Pakistan, China, and Bangladesh — is under scrutiny. Investigators suspect that these visits were not purely for tourism or content creation, as previously portrayed on her social media platforms.
Police sources believe her communication with Pakistani handlers intensified during the four-day armed conflict between India and Pakistan that erupted after the Pahalgam attack in April. It is during this period that several unusual data transfers and online activities were recorded.
Rising Concerns Over Digital Espionage
The use of content creators and influencers as espionage agents marks a new evolution in cross-border intelligence warfare. Intelligence agencies are now ramping up surveillance on non-traditional actors — especially those with access to social platforms, government events, and cross-border contacts.
Experts believe that soft targets like YouTubers, travel bloggers, and cultural influencers are increasingly being used to gather open-source intelligence, test vulnerabilities, and create low-profile data transfer mechanisms. These tactics often fly under the radar of traditional counterintelligence operations.
“With digital platforms becoming the new battleground, the old image of a spy in disguise is being replaced by influencers with access, mobility, and motive,” said a former R&AW officer.
Official Secrets Act and Legal Proceedings
An FIR has been registered against Jasbir Singh at the SSOC Mohali under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Official Secrets Act. Charges may also be framed under the newly implemented provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), depending on the outcome of forensic examinations and custodial interrogations.
Jyoti Malhotra has also been booked under the Official Secrets Act. Investigators are likely to club multiple cases together if they uncover operational overlaps among the accused.
Government and Public Reaction
The arrests have prompted a sharp response from national security agencies and political circles. While some officials have praised the Punjab Police for acting swiftly, others have called for tighter screening and monitoring of individuals who maintain frequent contact with foreign embassies or travel abroad frequently.
Public sentiment, particularly in Punjab, remains cautious yet alert. Civil society groups have urged media platforms to discourage the glorification of cross-border travels without proper scrutiny.
Meanwhile, calls are growing for comprehensive reforms in digital security, especially for content creators who may unwittingly become tools in foreign intelligence operations.
Conclusion
The arrest of Jasbir Singh, a YouTuber allegedly operating in coordination with Pakistani intelligence handlers, underscores the evolving threat landscape facing India’s internal security framework. As investigations unfold, the case is expected to shed more light on the modus operandi of digital espionage networks and the vulnerabilities within civilian communication channels.
Security agencies are now on high alert to ensure that such operations are swiftly dismantled before they cause irreparable damage to national security. The Punjab Police, in coordination with national agencies, remains committed to ensuring that all individuals involved in such anti-national activities are brought to justice.
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